Modified Jon Boat Trailer

[nastyquedawg]

I recentenly modified a boat trailer originally used for a 13ft whaler to accomodate a 16ft Jon boat. I replaced the tongue of the trailer with a 3in. x 3in tube that is 16ft long making the trailer a total of 20ft in lenght. From the side their is a shallow bow in the tongue, I guess due to the weight of the boat. Will this cause any problems in the future. I have not towed it yet but plan on taking it out next Saturday. Any oppinions on the situation would be greatly appreciated. My gut tells me I am ok because I believe that the shallow bow will never take the steel tube past yield stength.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Modified Jon Boat Trailer

What is the thickness of the steel?

I modified a trailer for my jon boat and used a 16' long 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" piece of steel (don't remember the thickness of steel). I didn't look to see if it has a bow while sitting still, but it does deflect a bit if jumped on. I've towed it a few thousand miles and haven't had problems.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Modified Jon Boat Trailer

did you notice if the tube was curved before hand? could have been. if concerned add a piece of 2 inch angle to the bottom of the tube.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Modified Jon Boat Trailer

Is your bow stop set up right?

when the boat is on the trailer the bow stop actually makes the boat a stress bearing part of the trailer.

If it is bowed now with just the weight of the boat on it I would take it for a test haul close to your house just to make sure it is going to be roadworthy, if it is going to fail better to find out before you scuttle a trip or worse, it breaks and leaves you stranded miles from home.

My trailer has a slight bow but it has had a boat on for 27 years and has hauled it thousands of miles.

If it does bend more TDs idea is the easiest fix, leave it hooked to your truck and get a jack to lift the bow out and weld the angle on.

 

[nastyquedawg]

Re: Modified Jon Boat Trailer

It looked straight before I attached it to the trailer. I will use the angle idea to eliminate the bow. Thanks

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Modified Jon Boat Trailer

You could simply add a truss to the top of the tongue. If not a truss, they you could intentionally arch the tongue a bit in the opposite direction. I did this one trailer which had some sag in the 2 1/2" square tongue under a trihull I had. It had sagged over time and had a lot of weight forward on the tongue when properly loaded. I flipped the tongue tubing and it was find ever after.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Modified Jon Boat Trailer

Every trailer I have encountered flops around like mad, until you put the boat on. Then, with the boat attached tightly to the bow stop, and strapped at the transom, it stops the flexing. Steel has some flex to it, just the nature of the being.